This just proves that it's your bias speaking and you really don't understand Artie's game. He is NOT soft. Is he a banger? No, and he never will be. Is he strong enough to consistently win board battles? Not right now, but he's improved since last year and will continue to improve.

But the reason Artie is not soft is because he's not a perimeter player. He drives to the net. He makes plays in traffic. He'll take a hit to make a play.

If he was Canadian, you wouldn't be saying all this about him, I'm sure. Any of us can easily see where he needs to improve, but most of us understand that he won't be a finished product in his 2nd NHL season and are satisfied with the progress he's made to this point, and we're excited by the potential we see in him for the future.

yup, typical attitude some have... basically:

If you're a euro with some skill and don't put up PPG numbers you're "enigmatic"

If you're a euro and don't play like Ryan Callahan you're "soft" and "lazy"